Chapter 19
I took a step back in fear, despite the fact I had just acquired the stone, doubling my power.
I looked on at Orcus, anticipating his next move.
But Orcus did not move, instead he just stared deep into my soul. Before I could think of what to do, Orcus started to growl and light back on fire.
Orcus's body started to grow, and his axe along with it. It seemed like he was about to reach his original size, when he finally spoke. But instead of the demonic voice, it was his normal human (if you could call it that) voice.
"No...no not yet, we must keep our composure." He said, to his other self I presumed. "We can't falter right now, were too close."
After a moment, a low growl came from the animal skull, the original Orcus, and the god started to shrink.
Once he was normal sized the god looked at me.
"You are lucky i stopped him, or else you would be dead within the minute." Said the god in his normal voice.
"Don't try that with me." I said. "I know you can't control him, and that your much weaker then him. If you had the choice, you would have already let him tear me to pieces." I guessed. I didn't know if it was true or not, but I was pretty confident that the other aspect of Orcus would obliterate me.
"You see that is where you are mistaken demigod, for I am more than capable of killing you." Said the god raising his axe and summoning bone like armor around his body.
"And now its time for you to die." He said.
The god swung his battle axe down, causing a massive blast of energy to come my way. I immediately raised my scythe up, determined to block the gods attack.
I squatted down and planted myself for the attack, and thankfully so, because the blast hit like a truck.
It took all I had to not black out from the pressure alone, but I stayed focused and continue to brace the attack.
I kept my scythe symmetrically down my body, splitting the attack down the middle, protecting my body.
Even though I didn't get hit by the attack, it felt like my body was about to melt down into mush. I had no doubt that if I had been slightly off, I would have been obliterated.
After what felt like an eternity, the attack let off. I looked behind me to see a massive hole in the cave.
I looked over to Orcus to see him staring at his original body. He didn't even acknowledge me.
I got up and took a step forward, my legs still wobbly.
"Is that all you got!" I yelled at Orcus. It was a bad idea but I was upset he thought he could get rid of me so easy.
Orcus turned around, genuinely surprised.
His confusion quickly turned into amusement.
"Still alive, huh?" He said.
"Your quite powerful for a such a young demigod. Shane you must die."
"Sorry Orcus, but I cant do that for you." I said.
Before Orcus could react I grabbed the stone of souls from where I had dropped it.
"Like I said Orcus, I don't have the time to play your little game."
As soon as I said that I absorbed the stone of souls back into my body. How? Don't ask.
But I could immediately feel the power become apart of me. Despite the god of death in front of me, I felt like no one could stop me.
I immediate grabbed my scythe with both my hands, and launched myself at Orcus. The god seemed surprised but simply parried my attack.
"First you choose to block my attack instead of dodging, and now you attack me head on?
You are truly intriguing me now, demigod. How about a little game, demigod."
I immediately swung my scythe again towards the god, this time he simply stepped back.
"Did you not hear me Orcus! I don't have time for your little games." I yelled.
Orcus simply sighed. "Well, I suppose you need a little incentive."
The god snapped his finger and the air in front of him shimmered.
"Hmm... now demigod, let me ask you again," he said showing me an imagine in his hand.
"Do you want to play a game?"
I couldn't reply. The picture in his hand... it was my mother. Her face was frozen with the same expression she had when I had last seen her.
After what seemed like a lifetime of staring I spoke.
"How...? How do you have her? Where is she?!"
"Maybe I could tell you if you play my game" Orcus said sadistically.
"Don't play with me Orcus. I already know my mom is with Hades. A fury took her!" I told him.
"Ahh, yes, Alecto. Powerful pawn, easy to manipulate. Didn't take much for a god like myself to...pull a couple strings here and there. And next thing you know, your mother is at my doorstep." He said with a smile.
"Orcus...please. I'll do whatever. Just give me my mother back." I said defeated.
Orcus laughed evilly. "Finally ready to play my game, huh?" He said as he snapped.
Immediately a cage appeared at the top of the cavern.
And inside the cave, was my mother.
I immediately tried to find a way to get her.
"Not so fast demigod. If you really want to open the cage you'll need the key." Yelled the god across the room.
"Where is it, Orcus. Where's the key!"
"Simple, it's the thing on my very head." As soon as he said that, the skull on his head emitted a low growl."
"Why do you worry, do you not have faith in a friend?" The skull calmed down but didn't seem too happy.
"But to make it easier, I'll make a dale demigod, if you are simply able to take this helmet off my head, I will cease attacks completely."
"Why are you doing this Orcus?" What is your goal, what do you stand to gain?" I asked skeptically.
"Simple, if I am able to disable you completely, you must hand over the stone without hesitation. It's much easier then taking it off a dead corpse. And maybe if you beg, I'll set your mother free too. So what do you say?" He said with a smile.
"I accept your proposal on the Styx, Orcus." I said.
"Good." Orcus said and immediately launched himself at me.
I quickly rolled to the side and swung my scythe diagonal.
I expected to catch the god off guard but he simply jumped back.
"You have to be much faster than that if you wish to lay a finger on me."
I knew he as right, his reaction speed was unbelievable.
I switched my sweat on into a sword and changed my stance.
"A different approach then, huh? Futile attempt."
The god took a step forward and sliced his axe right at me.
I swung my sword in response, barely able to hold against him. Deciding I wouldn't win off defense alone, I followed up with two more attacks. The god parried the first but was force to dodge the second.
Even if my attacks didn't land, I was keeping the god on his feet, which was progress.
The god grunted and swung his axe in an over arching strike.
Even though it would make sense to simply roll away, I decided that I had to be the one to apply pressure. Plus I wouldn't be surprised if the god gutted me mid roll.
So despite my better judgement, I lifted my sword and held off the attack.
My sword interlocked with the underside of the axe, the blade inches away from my nose.
"Hmm, little demigod dare challenges a god directly?! You shall pay dearly for this."
Despite his words, I continued to push against the god. I had no doubt that without the stone or being in the underworld, I would be crushed within seconds.
And something told me that the god wasn't at full power, probably because he wasn't able to kill me. Or because he had just woken up. Either way, I was extremely lucky.
The god continued to push his blade down , forcing me on to my knees. From this angle I could almost see under the gods helmet, and the sights...were horrible. It looked like a void filled with tortured souls filled with nothing but agony in their eyes.
"Now this is right, demigod. Bow before me puny godling!" He yelled.
Knowing I didn't have much left in me, I had to think quick. And right when it seemed like all was hopeless, a genius yet stupid plan came into my mind. Deciding I didn't have too much of an option, I went full send.
I willed my sword to switch back to a scythe, causing Orcus to lessen his force for a split second, which gave me the time to get back up.
Though I was able to get up, I wasn't able to break the hold, keeping our weapons interlocked.
But unlike the sword, I was able to keep the blade away from my face, while also applying pressure with the scythes blade.
The god was forced to finally push off, not being able to take the scythe blade in his face.
"Didn't pay as dearly as expected." I said smugly. Despite almost being killed, I felt confident. Though I though it was a inconvenient weapon at first, I felt confident with it in my hand. Suppose it's on of the few pros of being a death spawn.
Orcus simply growled in response. But instead of launching himself at me, he lifted his blade into the air. Immediately the blade turned into a six foot double sided battle axe.
"You have pushed your limits, demigod. Despite the bet, I will not hesitate to kill you."
"You know what, Orcus? I don't think you could."
The god simply growled lowly and got his blade ready instead of immediately rushing at me.
Despite all my big talk, I knew I couldn't overpower the god physically, and he was way to fast to hit without damaging first.
There was only one way I could think of creating an opportunity, but the last time I had done it I had been completely drained of energy, and it may not even work. I decided to not try it until I absolutely needed to.
Which was seeming to be soon as the god lunged at me at crazy fast speed.
Something must have snapped in Orcus, because he was already twice as fast. I barely had time to slip the attack but because of the size increase, the blade was able to cut a gash in my arm.
But before I had time to even react to the the pain, I saw the massive battle axe come straight for my neck.
My mind immediately started thinking in slow motion. There was no way I was going to dodge the attack, and even less of a chance to parry. Meaning the only way to survive was to use *that*. Knowing that there was no other way, I closed my eyes and focused all my energy.
I knew that if this didn't work I would have no chance of survival. Even though I had never even attempted this, it was the only option. And based on the fact that I was even think right now, meant that it worked.
I slowly opened my eyes to find the massive battle axe less than an inch away from my neck.
"..you sly demigod." Said Orcus with spite in his voice. The god had two misty look chains wrapped around each of his wrists and another around the axes handle.
Orcus jerked his axe backwards, breaking the chains easily, but they did their job.
"How? How did you manipulate the stone already?" Orcus asked curios.
"Wouldn't be the first time." I replied. "Well I have used it twice before, and now that I know what the power actually is, makes it much easier to manipulate, don't you think?"
"I told you, Orcus, you telling me everything will be your downfall."
"Foolish mortal gains a little power and thinks he's on the level of a god. You still do not even know the great power of that relic. Some will never learn." Said the god as he rose into the air.
"But I suppose we need this soon." The god said as something shot out from his hand at blazing speeds towards my moms cage, causing it the fall down.
"No!" I yelled out charging with my scythe.
"Tut tut tut." said Orcus shooting out another object directly into my arm, causing another gash.
I looked at the projectile to find a dagger like object made out of bones, deep inside my arm.
But before I could even scream out, two more daggers shot out at me, piercing each one of my legs, causing me to fall to my knees.
"Yes demigod. Sit and watch what that smart mouth of your gets you." He said as he opened my mother's cage.
I watched on desperately as my mother's frozen body was floated out of the cage and towards Orcus.
"Let this be a lesson, demigod. Do not challenge a god" he said as a another bone dagger shot out, this one bigger then the rest, and pierced my mother through the heart.
Please do mind the typos, lost my editor (rip ethan [not actually dead]) and yall seen the upload schedule, imagine if i had to edit it too. I will eventually go through the chapters by myself, but let me atleast get a couple chapters out. But if it gets bad just tell me and ill fix it